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The Los Angeles Lakers struggled mightily earlier last season but were able to turn things around in the second half of the campaign.
Of course, that wasn’t out of luck or chance, as Rob Pelinka and the front office went to great lengths to revamp the roster and put together a contender.
A lot of that had to do with the addition of Jarred Vanderbilt.
He gave them another floor-spreader, but more than that, his combination of size, length, lateral quickness, and defensive instincts made him a matchup nightmare and an instant fan favorite.
That’s why it’s not a surprise to see Dave McMenamin of ESPN report that the Lakers have exercised their team option worth $4.7 million on him.
Speaking of expected LAL moves, the Lakers plan to exercise the $4.7 million team option for Jarred Vanderbilt for next season, sources told ESPN. The 24-year-old forward will be eligible for a contract extension extension worth up to 4 years and $71 million starting Sept. 7.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 28, 2023
McMenamin adds that Vanderbilt will now be eligible to sign a four-year extension worth $71 million starting September 7.
The 24-year-old wasn’t being used properly in Utah, and he burst out as soon as he arrived in Southern California, embracing that role as a bruiser and versatile defender they have craved for quite a while now.
Despite his size, he’s more than able to hold his own in the perimeter and stay in front of smaller, quicker players, and he’s a much better shooter than Lakers fans originally thought he was.
The Lakers will also hope to keep Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves locked in for the future.
And while that might mean giving up on some potential free agent targets, it seems like this new core could make a championship run right away.
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